Will You Be Celebrating Palm Sunday?

[Craig Speechly]

I asked ChatGPT a question: Do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate Palm Sunday.  Here was it's reply

Quote

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do not typically celebrate Palm Sunday as a formal part of their religious observances.

While Mormons recognize and honor Jesus Christ as the central figure of their faith, they do not follow the liturgical calendar or observe many of the traditional Christian holidays that are associated with specific events in the life of Jesus, such as Palm Sunday or Easter.

I'm curious to know if any of the posters here are going to change their Easter Week celebration traditions by expanding it to now include Palm Sunday.  If yes, what exactly will you do to include this traditional Christian observance as part of your holiday?

Edited April 18, 2023 by Craig Speechly

[bluebell]

Elder Stevenson gave a wonderful talk on celebrating Easter at GC a couple of weeks ago.  Below is a small excerpt--

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/11stevenson?lang=eng

Lesa and I have discussed ways that our family can do better during the Easter season. Perhaps the question we have asked ourselves is one we could all contemplate: How do we model the teaching and celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter story, with the same balance, fulness, and rich religious tradition of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story?

It seems we are all trying. I observe a growing effort among Latter-day Saints toward a more Christ-centered Easter. This includes a greater and more thoughtful recognition of Palm Sunday and Good Friday as practiced by some of our Christian cousins. We might also adopt appropriate Christ-centered Easter traditions found in the cultures and practices of countries worldwide.

New Testament scholar N. T. Wright suggested: “We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.”³

[Craig Speechly]

I find it interesting to watch the church pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world, who doesn't like the church anyway, that the church is Christian.  I predict a major fail.

[bluebell]

2 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

I find it interesting to watch the church pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world, who doesn't like the church anyway, that the church is Christian.  I predict a major fail.

What “generations of previously long held beliefs” are you referring to?

[Damien the Leper]

I find it interesting that you think the LDS church is trying to prove anything to anyone. That this man spoke of N.T. Wright at a GC is wonderful. 

[LoudmouthMormon]

54 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

I find it interesting to watch the church pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world, who doesn't like the church anyway, that the church is Christian.  I predict a major fail.

Heh.  Some might call it "focusing on Jesus Christ as the central figure and main purpose of everything we do".  But if you wanna call it an attempt to "pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world ... that the church is Christian", I guess you can do that if you want.  

[Craig Speechly]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

What “generations of previously long held beliefs” are you referring to?

While the church has always celebrated Easter Sunday...it has never emphasized Palm Sunday. 

As Bruce R McConkie stated:

Quote

It is not the common practice to single out Palm Sunday for any special commemorative worship. Rather the Latter-day Saints memorialize the transcendent events of their era.

But it seems the church has a mission to convince the christian world that the church is (cough cough) Christian. Can palm fronds in sacrament meeting and the wearing of a cross be far behind?  In fact, I predict that in the near future wearing a cross will become quite acceptable for members of the church.

I also predict that FAIRMormon will soon be editing its website to remove or edit this article.

https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Why_don't_Mormons_observe_Palm_Sunday_like_many_other_Christian_religions%3F

 

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Craig Speechly

[bluebell]

30 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

While the church has always celebrated Easter Sunday...it has never emphasized Palm Sunday. 

As Bruce R McConkie stated:

But it seems the church has a mission to convince the christian world that the church is (cough cough) Christian. Can palm fronds in sacrament meeting and the wearing of a cross be far behind?  In fact, I predict that in the near future wearing a cross will become quite acceptable for members of the church.

I also predict that FAIRMormon will soon be editing its website to remove or edit this article.

https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Why_don't_Mormons_observe_Palm_Sunday_like_many_other_Christian_religions%3F

 

 

We still don't "observe" palm sunday in any institutional sense.  Neither did Elder Stevenson's talk suggest that the church should or would do so in the future.  So I'm still confused about the snarky manner of your replies.  

[JAHS]

2 hours ago, Craig Speechly said:

I find it interesting to watch the church pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world, who doesn't like the church anyway, that the church is Christian.  I predict a major fail.

Those "beliefs" you are referring to I would call mostly "traditions" or cultural celebrations.  We believe and recognize everything Christ did as recorded in the Bible, but there are some Christian traditions that we don't normally celebrate. It's not doctrinal that we must do so.

[Hamilton Porter]

Anybody know what are "Eastern Catholicism" and "Anglo-Catholicism"?

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Craig Speechly said:

I also predict that FAIRMormon will soon be editing its website to remove or edit this article.

 

Of course we [FAIR] will edit it to note we [church members] have recently been taught to approach this time of year more like Christmas (the sacred side of celebration); what is the issue?  We still don’t have a liturgical calendar. I wouldn’t mind it if we did though. I appreciate getting away some from the low church traditions that church founders brought with them.  In fact, thank you for pointing that out as I will go remind the editors it needs to be updated. 
 

This below is a simple explanation of the liturgical calendar; in no way can it be construed as a criticism. 
 

Quote

At some point some or many Christians got into the habit of teaching the story of Jesus with what is called a "liturgical calendar," in which an extra observance of an event related to Christ's ministry is made by the way the Eucharist or Mass is conducted by many Christians. The reason for this liturgical celebration done by the Roman Catholic Church in Latin until recently, was to teach the message found especially the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) to their followers. But the traditional liturgical worship pattern is not set out in the New Testament. It is not biblical but a tradition growing out of piety and necessity.

The liturgical calendar was created by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Holidays, feast days, and other celebrations were created by these churches to teach the Middle Ages Christians about events described in the Bible which most followers did not have access to or read themselves. The Cathedrals of this time period were also filled with paintings, bas reliefs, and statues for this same purpose. If you look up "Liturgical Year" in Wikipedia, you’ll see many feasts and holidays which celebrated the following events:

 

 

I don’t remember the Church ever criticizing having such a calendar, even when pointing out we chose a different way. 
 

We can do both events of our era and events of the past. It’s not like one memorial was precludes the other. 
 

I think we need to edit it just to break up this glorious sentence as it could be mistaken for one of my long winded and winding constructions. 
 

Quote

The difference with many others who are Christians is that Latter-day Saints stress covenants and hence also frequent covenant renewal of their covenants, which Christians generally do not think in terms of having made a covenant and of keeping the terms of this covenant with God in which Latter-day Saints agree to take upon themselves his name and keep his commandments and thereby having his Spirit with them always as the means whereby they are purged, cleansed, perfected, sanctified and hence made holy and hence ready to be judged by their works, have Jesus Christ as their Advocate, who in the final judgment will testify that he has extended his mercy to them and therefore they have become sanctified Saints and hence can and should be declared justified by their deeds (and not merely by their often vain words) and allowed into the presence of the Father having been by the mercy of the Lord forgiven of their sins and made fully holy.

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by Calm

[bluebell]

7 minutes ago, Calm said:

I wouldn’t mind it if we did though. I appreciate getting away some from the low church traditions that church founders brought with them. 

I as well. It would be a nice change, though certainly not one that would make us more Christian in anyone's eyes I don't think.

[Calm]

55 minutes ago, JAHS said:

It's not doctrinal that we must do so.

Or that we shouldn’t. 

[Calm]

4 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I as well. It would be a nice change, though certainly not one that would make us more Christian in anyone's eyes I don't think.

I doubt that many pay close enough attention to us to make a significant difference in perception by doing this. 

[Saint Bonaventure]

13 hours ago, Hamilton Porter said:

Anybody know what are "Eastern Catholicism" and "Anglo-Catholicism"?

Certainly.

• In addition to the Latin Rite Church, there are 23 other Catholic Churches that are in full communion with the pope.
• There are Anglicans who see themselves as very much Catholic, and even have arguments and traditions centered in apostolic succession. Anglicans are close enough to Catholics theologically that there is an expedited way for Anglicans to join the Catholic Church. There is even a short path for Anglican priests to become Catholic priests. Whole congregations of Anglicans have joined the Catholic Church en masse (or in Mass!).

 

[MiserereNobis]

14 hours ago, Hamilton Porter said:

Anybody know what are "Eastern Catholicism" and "Anglo-Catholicism"?

To add to what Bonaventure said, the Eastern Catholic Churches are pretty much identical in liturgy to their Eastern Orthodox counterparts. This webpage contains a list of the 23 churches: https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/eastern-catholic-churches

[MiserereNobis]

16 hours ago, Craig Speechly said:

I also predict that FAIRMormon will soon be editing its website to remove or edit this article.

https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Why_don't_Mormons_observe_Palm_Sunday_like_many_other_Christian_religions%3F

 

15 hours ago, Calm said:

This below is a simple explanation of the liturgical calendar; in no way can it be construed as a criticism. 

Never underestimate the ability of humans to construe things!

Here are some things from that article that I might word differently:

Quote

At some point some or many Christians got into the habit of teaching the story of Jesus with what is called a "liturgical calendar," in which an extra observance of an event related to Christ's ministry is made by the way the Eucharist or Mass is conducted by many Christians.

I don't like the phrase "got into the habit." It would be like saying, "Christians got into the habit of meeting on Sundays." It sounds like it is lacking intention. The liturgical calendar is central to Catholic worship. It dictates so much that is happening at Mass: priestly vestments, colors, candles, songs/chants, Biblical readings, even the time of meeting (such as midnight Mass). It's not something that just adds "an extra observance of an event."

While the focus is on Christ's ministry, it also contains memorial days for Saints. It also dictates Holy Days of Obligation, when Catholics are required to attend Mass. Every Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation, but there are other days as well. The United States currently has 8.

The article:

Quote

Holidays, feast days, and other celebrations were created by these churches to teach the Middle Ages Christians about events described in the Bible which most followers did not have access to or read themselves.

When I first read this, I thought it said "middle aged Christians" 😁

The liturgical year certainly teaches about events in the Bible and Sacred Tradition, but that is not its main purpose. The purpose is to make time sacred. Each day is not only dedicated to God in a specific way, but helps us open ourselves to God. Here's a good quote: "The General Instruction of the Roman Missal reminds us that in the cycles of readings and prayers proclaimed throughout the year in the sacred liturgy “the mysteries of redemption are celebrated so as to be in some way made present.” The liturgical calendar helps us see God here and now.

This is especially so if one, like monastics, follows the Liturgy of the Hours, where 7 prayers, including hymns and readings primarily from the psalms, are made at specific times during the day. So not only is the day itself made sacred, but the hours throughout the day. It creates an incredible sacred rhythm.

Also, some may not be aware that Mass is celebrated every day, not just on Sunday, so the liturgical calendar applies to every day of the year.

Back to the article:

Quote

Latter-day Saints observe Christ's atonement by partaking of the Sacrament every Sunday, rather than observing events on the liturgical calendar

This makes it seem either/or. As I mentioned above, the events on the liturgical calendar help determine how Mass, with the reception of communion, will be celebrated. It is both. They are intertwined.

Back to the article:

Quote

The central portion of Latter-day Saint public worship is "administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church," which is done "according to the commandments of Christ.

This is the central portion of Catholic worship, too. From the catechism:

Quote

1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."

1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."

The liturgical calendar adds to this, and is not something separate or a distraction from it.

From the article:

Quote

The difference with many others who are Christians is that Latter-day Saints stress covenants and hence also frequent covenant renewal of their covenants, which Christians generally do not think in terms of having made a covenant and of keeping the terms of this covenant with God in which Latter-day Saints agree to take upon themselves his name and keep his commandments and thereby having his Spirit with them always as the means whereby they are purged, cleansed, perfected, sanctified and hence made holy and hence ready to be judged by their works, have Jesus Christ as their Advocate, who in the final judgment will testify that he has extended his mercy to them and therefore they have become sanctified Saints and hence can and should be declared justified by their deeds (and not merely by their often vain words) and allowed into the presence of the Father having been by the mercy of the Lord forgiven of their sins and made fully holy.

First off, as an English teacher, I want to say: holy moly, who wrote this bugger of a sentence? @Scott Lloyd, a grammarian and copy editor is desperately needed here!  

Secondly, I'm not sure what this sentence has to do with liturgical calendars and the celebration of Palm Sunday.

Edited April 19, 2023 by MiserereNobis

[Craig Speechly]

17 hours ago, bluebell said:

We still don't "observe" palm sunday in any institutional sense.  Neither did Elder Stevenson's talk suggest that the church should or would do so in the future.  So I'm still confused about the snarky manner of your replies.  

Snarky?

[Okrahomer]

4 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

Snarky?

18 hours ago, Craig Speechly said:

But it seems the church has a mission to convince the christian world that the church is (cough cough) Christian.

Ah!  So you were actually being (cough cough) friendly?

[Craig Speechly]

3 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

Ah!  So you were actually being (cough cough) friendly?

🤷‍♂️ Thin Skin?  PPLLEEAASSEE...I was referring to the Christian world who does not view members of the church as Christian.

[Bernard Gui]

23 hours ago, Craig Speechly said:

I find it interesting to watch the church pivot and cast off generations of previously long held beliefs in order to prove to the Christian world, who doesn't like the church anyway, that the church is Christian.  I predict a major fail.

Until we abandon Joseph and the Restoration, we will never be full members of the club.

[Bernard Gui]

On 4/18/2023 at 5:26 PM, Damien the Leper said:

I find it interesting that you think the LDS church is trying to prove anything to anyone. That this man spoke of N.T. Wright at a GC is wonderful. 

I don’t believe we will ever hear Joseph, Elder Stevenson, et al., quoted approvingly in a non-LDS sermon

Edited April 19, 2023 by Bernard Gui

[Craig Speechly]

19 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Until we abandon Joseph and the Restoration, we will never be full members of the club.

That's only part of the problem.  I believe it comes down to the Godhead and yes Joseph and the Restoration claims.

[Bernard Gui]

8 hours ago, Saint Bonaventure said:

Whole congregations of Anglicans have joined the Catholic Church en masse (or in Mass!).

Have any RC gone the other direction?

 

[Bernard Gui]

29 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

That's only part of the problem.  I believe it comes down to the Godhead and yes Joseph and the Restoration claims.

It’s because of Joseph that we have the Godhead clarification.